Improvement



C. M. PUWERS. Thrashing-Machnes.

Patented April 15, 1873.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. TOWERS, 0F BIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

`IMPRQVEMENT IN THRASHlNG-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,863, dated April15, 1873; application led February 8, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. POWERS, of Ridgewood, in the county ofBergen and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Thrashing-Machines, of which the following is aspecification:

The object of this invention is to furnish a machine for thrashing andcleaning grain which may be used either by hand or motive power, andwhich shall effectually beat out the grain without injuring the straw 5and it consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination ofparts hereinafter set forth and described.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l representsa vertical longitudinalsection of the machine taken on the line .c x of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a topview,partly in section. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of Fig. l taken on theline y y.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the frame of the machine, which is of rectangular form, andelevated to a convenient height. B is the platform, in the middle and ona line with which is the corrugated and perforated bed C. D D areendless aprons, which are revolved by means of the belts or bands E andE.

The grain to be thrashed is laid upon the apron D, which carries italong` over the bed C, where the grain is beaten out. The straw is thencarried along by the apron D and discharged from the tail of themachine.

While the grain is passing over the bed G it is subjected to the actionof the beater F. This beater is composed of a series of bars, G,confined in the heads H H, the heads being connected by the cap-piece I.Attached to the outside of each head is a vertical guiderod, J, whichworks in a groove in the side of' the frame.

The thrashing is effected by a rapid upand-down motion of the beater F,the bars Gr of which are brought in contact, or nearly in contact, withthe bed at'each stroke. The motion of the beater is produced by means ofthe pin-wheel K on the driving-shaft L.

M is a transverse bar, by which the two rods J of the beater areconnected. N is aleg ver whose fulcrum is on the rock-shaft O. Prepresents three (more or less) projectingpins on the side of the wheelK. Each pin is provided with a roller, q, to lessen the friction.

This wheel is revolved by means of the crank B, or by a pulley to whichthe actuating power is applied. The inner end of the leverN passes underand is attached to the transverse bar M.' Its outer end is in a positionto receive the pins P as the wheel revolves and is forced downward byeach pin. This action raises the beater.

The down motion is produced by means of a spring, S, on each side of themachine, which bears with a constant pressure on the transverse bar M.As the driving-shaft is revolved a rapid up-and-down motion is impartedto the beater, to which the grain issubjected, as before stated.

T represents sieves, upon which the grain and cha-E fall as they passthrough the bed C. These sieves are given a vibrating motion by means ofthe ordinary fanning-mill device for the same purpose, seen at W. U `isa fan, which is revolved from the pin-wheel by the band V.

By this machine the grain is thrashed by au action similar to that oftheold ilaih while the straw is kept straight and in good condition and thegrain is cleaned by the same operation. i The machine is designed to bedriven by hand, so that small crops of grain may be thrashed out andcleaned without extra help and with verylittle trouble.

Having thus described myin vention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent-e l. A machine for thrashing grain, having astationary bed and a vertical beater for beat ing out the grain, incombination with one or more endless aprons, arranged substantially asdescribed.

2. The pin-wheel K, lever N, and transverse bar M, arranged incombination with the beat er F, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

3. The sieves T and fan U, in combination with the bed C and beater F,as and for the purposes described.

4. In combination with the beater F, bar M, lever N, and wheel K, thesprings S, as and for the purposes described.

CHARLES M. POWERS.

Witnesses:

T. B. MosHEE, ALEX. F. ROBERTS.

